Harman Baweja: Denying A Relationship Is Lame

Harman Baweja does not agree with the word 'comeback', but his forthcoming thriller Dishkiyaoon marks the start of a new innings for the actor, whose first few films were high on hype but did not perform as per expectations.

Grabbing headlines for his reel life makeover as well as the real life romance with Bipasha Basu, Harman Baweja is in a happy state of mind. All set to fire a victorious shot with Dishkiyaoon, Harman Baweja gets candid with Indiatimes.com

Dishkiyaoon is coming five years after your last release. There were various theories about what you were planning with your career (including turning producer) all this while. So did this film choose you or you went for it?

I would say the film and I fell in love together. Neither did the film choose me, nor did I choose the film. The film and I just happened to meet, fall in love and decided to be in it together.

Honestly people love speculating and it is all a part and parcel of this business so you just have to laugh it off. And as far as production goes, I have always been into it in our banner.

You have worked hard on your physique in this film and have been very involved in the promotions as well. Is it tough to motivate yourself for a project after back to back flops?

Absolutely. I will be honest. When films don’t work, you definitely feel the pain and it hurts. Because you give a lot into a film. At least I go all out and like to put in whatever I can, in whichever department possible. I am there for my film 24x7.

So when you put in so much and the film does not do well, you tend to go into a shell and feel low about it. After that it is a matter of time. You sit back and accept that it did not work out.

...At first you do not like all the criticism you hear, and refuse to believe it and feel the negativity is unfair.

But as time passes you start seeing the other person’s point and realize that their perspective was right. And eventually realize the mistakes that need to be worked upon. That is the point when I spend time with myself to introspect and find something.

Is it true that Anil Kapoor once told you to do a normal Hindi film? And would you say you went wrong in choosing genres like sci-fi (Love Sotry 2050), sports (Victory) and something as complex as Whats Your Raashee so early in your career?

Nothing is a mistake. Till Friday we all believe that we have made a mind-blowing a film. Once it fails people call it a mistake. I don’t think the director or I would go ahead with a film if we thought we were making a mistake. But the essence of what Anil (Kapoor) Sir said is very true.

Mind you, Anil Kapoor debuted in the 80s and he is still here to stay for a very long time. So for him to come up and say this…It was a very random, casual conversation, which I don’t think he even remembers.

...He just told me that I should do a “simple, Hindi picture”; and that stayed with me. I saw what he meant. It’s good advice. But at the same time my earlier films were not part of some conscious decision. It’s by default that I happened to like those subjects. Now if I like 'Karela', 'Tinda' and 'Ghiya', what to do? I know it’s an odd choice…But I like those kinds of foodstuffs, which normally people would not.

Your father and you put in a lot of work in Love Story 2050 but it did not work. Other experiments like RaOne, Krrish 3 have also met with a mixed response from people. Would you say sci-fi is still a very complex genre by Bollywood standards?

You said the right word. It is a very complex genre. And by complexity I don’t mean just effects. There is much more to it. It’s very difficult.

The storytelling technique of a sci-fi film here needs to be relooked.

Dishkiyaoon is coming at a time when a lot of your dad’s colleagues’ children are making a mark. There is Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor and some star director kids out there. Do you see them as completion or inspiration, since you debuted before them?

I think we are a nation of more than a billion people but there are only about 20 actors. Hollywood has about 40 working faces, but we have three times the population so we can afford to have 120 actors I would say. There is room for a hundred more.

As a viewer I can love Shahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Ranbir Kapoor at the same time. Nobody stops you from being a fan of more than one actor. It’s not like you are being infidel. I mean I am not in a relationship with an actor so I can love 10 actors at a time and watch films of all of them. So if you look at it from that perspective there is no completion.

Along with Dishkiyaoon, you have also been in the news for your relationship with Bipasha Basu. You both have handled this very candidly in the media. Has it been a conscious decision to be open because that way the constant focus will automatically reduce?

I am right here in front of you, answering this, so there is nothing thought out behind this. There is only so much that I would like to speak, because she is an individual and I respect her and what we share. Beyond that even I will keep it personal.

...But you see, what is the point of denying? It’s lame. If everyone around you knows something is going on, but you keep denying, I find that to be quite lame.

Your film It’s My Life has been stuck for a while. Any chances of reviving it?